The 10 Best Badminton Players of All Time in the World

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Badminton is one of the most common sports enjoyed by people. This sport, requiring agility, precision, and endurance, is played by at least two players separated by a net on a court.

Badminton has its own tournament, but is also included in certain worldwide events, the most recent being the Olympics. From those championships, several names were born that are now renowned as the best badminton players in the sport's history.

In the following list, we will delve into some of the best and most famous badminton players in this article, cited from thesporting.blog.

List of the Best and Most Famous Badminton Players in the World

1. Lin Dan (China)

To start the list, we have Lin Dan, often nicknamed as “Super Dan”. His excellence on the court brought him to be hailed as the greatest player in badminton’s history.

The Chinese badminton player has an impressive resume, including two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012) and five World Championship titles. His dominance on the court, particularly in high-pressure situations, solidifies his place as a true badminton legend.

2. Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia)

Badminton lovers should know who Lee Chong Wei is. Born in Bagan Serai Malaysia, this Malaysian-Chinese badminton player is easily one of the most famous badminton players of the world.

Lee actually started his career when he was 11. It was thanks to his father who supported and motivated him to get into the sport.

During his career as a badminton player, he was able to record his name as a three-time Olympic silver medalist, which he received in 2008, 2012, and 2016. For his great performance on the court, Lee earned the title of “Datuk” from the Malaysian People.

3. Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia)

This list is not complete if Taufik Hidayat is not included. This legendary shuttler was born on August 10, 1981, in Bandung and is one of the best badminton players in the world.

Known for his powerful backhand and graceful playing style, Taufik has won 27 titles during his career. Despite his retirement in 2012, he remains an iconic figure in Indonesian sports and a role model for young players.

4. Susi Susanti (Indonesia)

Susi Susanti is another Indonesian legend in the history of badminton. She made history by winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in 1992, after defeating South Korea's Bang Soo-Hyun.

Her relentless work ethic and consistent performances in major tournaments have earned her a permanent place among badminton’s elite. Her husband, Alan Budikusuma, is also among the greatest Indonesian shuttlers of all time.

5. Peter Hoeg Gade (Denmark)

Peter Hoeg Gade, the Danish badminton player, is renowned for his brilliant footwork and aggression on the court. Gade was a dominant force in European badminton, winning five European Championships and an All England Open title in 1999.

Not to mention, he was once ranked as the World no. 1 from 1998 until 2001. He then retired in 2018 and founded a badminton academy afterwards.

6. Saina Nehwal (India)

Born on March 17, 1990, Saina Nehwal is an Indian badminton player. Coming from a family whose parents are also badminton players, she definitely had it easy to find her path in this particular sport.

Nehwal began his journey in international championships in 2006. Since then, she has achieved numerous awards, including 24 titles and becoming the first Indian player to win an Olympic medal.

7. Kento Momota (Japan)

This Japanese badminton player once recorded his name on the Guinness Book of World Records for “The most badminton men’s singles titles in a season”. It was Kento Momota who won 11 titles during the 2019 season.

His career started when he was in second grade. He joined the national team in 2011 and, besides entering the Guinness Book of World Records, won a number of championships, notably World Championships and Asian Championships, ever since.

His relentless playing style on the court made him a formidable opponent on the international stage.

8. Li Lingwei (China)

Li Lingwei is hailed as a legend in the world of badminton. Her notable achievement was during the 1980s: she won three World Championship titles and multiple All England titles.

9. Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)

Viktor Axelsen is among the famous badminton players. This 3-time European Champion has exhibited a marvelous achievement even during his young age. Specifically speaking, he won the National Junior Event in 2006 and 2008 for singles and doubles.

His international journey began in 2009. Since then, he achieved innumerable gold and bronze medals from the Olympics to the Thomas Cup.

10. P.V. Sindhu (India)

Ending this list of best badminton players in the world, there is P.V. Sindhu from India. Starting his career at the age of 8, Sindhu showed a remarkable performance in the 2016 Olympics. She became the first Indian woman to win silver, as well as the youngest Indian shuttler to earn the title.

Editor's Note: The article has been corrected. Citation was changed to thesporting.blog. 

FRIA SUMITRO

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